“It was late now, and they should just head back; there was no use staying around,” Layla said, and Aurora removed her hands from Kael’s when she was steady on her feet. She wasn’t going to accept help down the hill, and Kael understood that.“Thanks, Kael,” she said with a small smile, and Kael nodded with another smile of his own. He was happy to be of help, and the fact that she chose him instead of the asshole opposite already made him over the moon. She turned to Layla, and they both started to walk away.Maverick kept to himself since then, while Kael looked so proud of himself. Aurora had a blank expression, like she didn’t realize what she was doing, or maybe she didn’t care. But Layla never looked so pissed; she kept shooting glares at Kael, who straight up ignored them.They didn’t get the wild boar, and it was getting very dark, so everyone decided to listen to Layla.Aurora and Layla were the first to leave, hand in hand.Maverick wanted to just go to his room and sleep the
“Fortunately, no one was dead,” Sadie said, and everyone took a huge breath of relief. “But a lot were injured. The amount of major injuries alone was fifty-seven.” Sadie replied without mincing words. Easton came to stand beside Aurora and held her hands in his for comfort while Alec came to Maverick's side.“There were minor injuries?” Layla asked, and Hilda nodded.“A lot of that,” Hilda said.“But all of them needed treatment,” she glanced at the ruined clinic. “As soon as possible.”Kael and a man came out of the pack house. Maverick guessed that they must have gone to check the level of damage.“The situation was worse inside. The only place miraculously untouched was the main office. All the files were safe, but not the rooms. It couldn't be managed for the time being,” Kael informed, and Aurora sucked in a breath. They must have wanted to keep the members of the pack there for a bit until they tried to find a way, but they weren’t seeing anything.“The fire wasn't natural, righ
“You should absolutely not do that, Alpha!” Dan exclaimed in exasperation as soon as they were out of view of the others. Only the representatives from the Moonlight Pack were present now, apart from Sadie and Hilda, who were still tending to the injured in the field.Maverick merely glanced at him before turning his attention to the burnt buildings in the distance. The injured had been gathered under a tent in the middle of the field since the clinic had completely collapsed. Sadie worked diligently, moving from one person to the next. Maverick doubted she would have stayed back even if he had told her to. Her instincts as a doctor wouldn’t have allowed it. But he also knew it had more to do with the kind of person she was—so much like her father, the former pack doctor.“Have you thought this through?” Jared asked, his brows furrowed. Maverick glanced at him and nodded. He understood the outburst he had made earlier was just a flash of anger that would eventually simmer down.“It wou
“Thanks a lot for the protection, Aurora. I’m sorry that some bitch set your place on fire. Don’t forget to call me when you need help from my side,” a woman, the epitome of a lone rogue, said. Aurora nodded while the rest stood back and let them talk.“Why don’t you join us, Cali? It would be better if we moved together,” Aurora suggested, but the woman shook her head.“Nope. I prefer solitude. Don’t worry about me. How about this? When I think it’s time to settle in a place, you’ll be the first person I seek out,” Cali replied, and Aurora nodded again.“But you must tell us if you’re in danger or need our help too. It works both ways!” Layla hollered from the passenger seat as she sat beside Floyd. Cali chuckled before nodding.“Alright. I can do that. I’ll be on my way now,” she said before she shapeshifted into a brown wolf and darted into the forest.Vans had been sent from Moonlight Pack to help them get to their destination quickly. How they managed to organize such resources we
Aurora tensed against her will the moment they stepped inside the Moonlight Pack territory the next day. The images of her and Easton crossing the territory line years ago, battered, tattered, and bleeding profusely, flashed vividly in her mind. Their throats had been parched, their eyes drooping, and their bodies weak from exhaustion.The men had managed to fix the car and get it running again that morning, thankfully avoiding any rogue encounters along the way. It seemed the proximity to Moonlight Pack’s territory provided a lot of safety.She felt someone slip their hand into hers and turned to see Easton nodding at her with reassurance, though his eyes remained unreadable. She nodded back, squeezing his hand tightly.Kael glanced at them briefly before focusing his attention back on the road ahead.In a blink, they passed faces Aurora recognized—some altered slightly, others unchanged, even though the pack itself had undergone significant transformation.The once-humble surrounding
"Why the hell would Crystalbelle be after you?" Zach had asked, his brows furrowed in confusion. "We know she's envious of you, but she wouldn’t go this far just out of envy." Aurora had simply shrugged in response."If she knew, would she be here devising strategies to capture that bitch with all of us?" Layla had chimed in, rolling her eyes at Zach. He had only shaken his head, choosing not to respond to her sarcasm."Hilton’s already on it," Aurora had informed the group. "I got a signal from the west, and he volunteered to check it out. He should be back in a week or so.""I’ll put together a list of all those nonsensical packs trying to oppose us," Easton had added. "We’ll track down whoever leaked information to Crystalbelle." Aurora had nodded approvingly."I’d like it if you also compiled a list of witch covens," Aurora had said firmly. "I’m not leaving them out of this. They’re still sore about me rejecting their stupid organization. They might’ve turned to her to use her as a
“Thanks, Jay. Come in, Aurora,” Maverick said, and the receptionist nodded with a smile before waltzing away.Aurora stepped inside and glanced around in awe. The room was nothing like she expected—it felt extraordinarily cozy and homely, a stark contrast to the image of the strict, commanding Alpha he projects.This was the kind of place that seemed to shut out the chaos of the Moonlight Pack, creating a sanctuary where one could almost pretend to be a normal human.“Your place is nice,” she said, her voice tinged with surprise.“Thanks,” Maverick replied, gesturing toward a matte comforter before walking away.Aurora wandered closer to the shelves, her fingers lightly brushing against the few books and the polished surface of a decorative figurine. It was strange to see this side of him—a man who seemed so much more grounded and human than the Maverick she remembered.He returned moments later, carrying two glasses of beer. Placing them on the table, he motioned for her to sit on the
Aurora crossed her arms as Jerry fixed her with a disappointed look.“You’re already biting the hand that fed you,” Jerry said, his tone sharp but calm. “I’ve heard about the way you’ve been acting, like a loose cannon. But I never thought you’d direct it at your own family. This is a new low, even for you. This woman” —he gestured at Alita— “raised the abomination that you are and endured everyone's criticism.”Aurora smirked, her expression cold. “Low, you say? If she didn’t want criticism, she should’ve made better decisions. I am sure that a process called abortion already existed when she got pregnant with this abomination and she wasn’t blind when she spread her legs for the man who gave her this ominous gift.”Alita’s face reddened with fury. “How dare you speak to me like that, Aurora?! Take that back right now!”“Oh? I can't? So now there are rules about who can say what?” Aurora sneered. “Since you were talking shits, I thought it was a matter of who had more trash about the
Aurora stared at the numerous werewolves scattered across the part of the field that had been designated as the training ground. Many of them were warming up, while others chatted amongst themselves. The Night Pack members stood apart from the members of the Moonlight Pack, none of them willing to familiarize themselves with the others just yet.The Night Pack wouldn’t make the first move, especially since the members of the other pack didn’t show the standard amount of respect for their leader. While they didn’t openly disrespect Aurora, they also didn’t hold her in high regard. Many of them believed that without her spells, she wouldn’t stand a chance against them. Her reliance on magic was something the men, whose pride lay in their strength, found hard to respect.“Good morning,” Maverick’s voice rang out across the field, commanding immediate attention. Even Aurora turned to glance at him.His tone was nothing like the one he used when speaking to her. This voice was authoritativ
Aurora walked into the playroom after searching the entire mansion for her assistant and almost groaned when she saw Layla and Zach making out intensely on the couch. They were so lost in each other that neither of them noticed her presence. Tilting her head to the side, she observed them for a moment, shook her head, and then loudly cleared her throat.They finally broke apart. Zach tried to move away from his mate to face Aurora properly, but Layla pinned him down with her body, glaring at Aurora.“Can’t you just go on your way without interrupting us?” Layla snapped.“Can’t you just find somewhere else to do your dirty deeds? Thank god there are no kids here. They’d be blinded by your antics,” Aurora said, sitting on the couch opposite them. Layla’s scowl deepened.“What do you want?” Layla asked begrudgingly. Aurora scoffed at her grumpiness before reaching for the box she had brought. She placed it on the table, opened it, and watched as Layla leaned forward to examine its conten
Aurora halted when she saw Phoebe sitting in front of her, hands draped on her waist. The woman wore a spaghetti strap top and a tight skirt that accentuated her figure.“I have absolutely no idea what the hell you are on about,” Aurora said casually. She was at a restaurant, trying to tail Jerry’s movements. Anabella had informed them during the meeting that a mail had arrived for Jerry two days ago. She had checked it and found only a cryptic note:It will get delivered at Jay Restaurant and Pub at three o’clock, eastside.Aurora had arrived just in time to witness a man—likely a spy from one of the many packs—drop a small container into the trash bin. She retrieved it and discovered shiny, vibrant red rubies inside. Pocketing them, she quickly used her power to create a replica before returning to her table to eat.“Maverick and you are back together, aren’t you? You went on a date,” Phoebe said, interrupting Aurora’s thoughts.Aurora snickered. “So that’s what you’re talking about
Ferix sighed as he placed the glass cup on the counter once again. He pushed the bottle toward the bartender, who refilled it with one of the strong cocktails Ferix had absentmindedly picked when he arrived at the bar.His head was clearly not in the right place, and the lively bar continued on without him as if he weren’t even there. His mind wandered far away, no matter how much he tried to steer his thoughts elsewhere. He always ended up back to the same thing: Aurora. Specifically, the image of Maverick and Aurora sharing a quiet moment on the balcony and the kiss they’d shared in the car later that night.He’d been waiting for Aurora at the pack house, ready to leave when she didn’t show. But just as he was about to head home, the sight of them in the car caught him off guard. They were so lost in each other that neither of them noticed him standing there.He had asked himself countless times why he still liked Aurora despite knowing she had a mate. Back when they weren’t on good
“Why does it always have to be that man ruining our date at the park?” Aurora grumbled, her tone sharp as she crossed her arms. Maverick kept his focus on the road, his hands steady on the steering wheel.“At least now we know why he’s there now and possibly why he was there back then,” Maverick replied, his voice calm but thoughtful.“He came to meet with a member of the Blood Moon Pack eight years ago too?” Aurora asked, raising an eyebrow.“I can’t be certain it was the Blood Moon Pack back then, but I’m sure this park has been his meeting spot for a while. It’s lively, there’s often a crowd. A man his age walking into a trampoline park might seem odd, but not strange enough to attract real attention,” Maverick explained. Aurora nodded in agreement, her mind piecing things together.“That makes a lot of sense,” she admitted, placing a thoughtful hand under her chin.“You don’t seem that concerned about him being alive,” Maverick observed, glancing at her briefly.“I’m not,” she rep
Aurora stared at the trampoline park in front of her, her eyes wide with surprise. There was no way she wouldn’t have looked completely out of place if she had worn high stilettos and a long gown. It probably wouldn’t have been just Maverick laughing at her; everyone else in the park would have joined in.“You brought me to a freaking trampoline park?” she asked, her jaw slack. Maverick handed her a bottle of water as they started walking toward the reception desk.“Yeah, a trampoline park. Is there a problem with that? I thought we could finally settle the competition from eight years ago,” he replied while checking them in. The receptionist smiled at him with a dreamy look in her eyes.“You are one tenacious guy,” Aurora remarked, and Maverick shrugged, taking her hand and pulling her closer so they could both sign the waivers.“That’s one of my good qualities. Sue me,” he said, handing the receptionist his black card.They had been to this park once before, back when they were dati
Sadie passed through the wards with half her attention elsewhere, but her focus shifted entirely when she caught something in her peripheral vision. She backtracked, needing to confirm that her eyes weren’t playing tricks on her.She blinked in disbelief as she realized it was indeed Ferix sitting on one of the beds, scowling, while a woman stood beside him, talking incessantly. The woman seemed to be scolding him, judging by the frown etched on her face.The woman glanced at the door, her gaze locking onto Sadie’s. She glared, causing Sadie to flinch slightly.“What the hell are you doing there?” the woman barked. Sadie had no choice but to step inside, not wanting to appear as though she’d been spying—even though that was exactly what she’d been doing.“Are you spyi—” the woman began but stopped short when her eyes fell on Sadie’s ID card. Clearing her throat awkwardly, she muttered, “You should have told me you’re a doctor here.” However, she didn’t bother to apologize.Ferix raise
Aurora chuckled as Maverick frowned in irritation. "I did that, and Phoebe was pissed when she found out about it. I had to do something to placate her overinflated ego, so I threw her nightgown that was in the wardrobe at you and came after you with contraceptive pills to assure her that I wanted nothing to do with you and was glad that I had her or something along those lines. Goddess, thinking about it makes me want to barf," he said, the irritation evident in his expression.Aurora couldn’t help but laugh. "I’m really sorry about those damn things I said that night. It was enough to drive me apart in two," he added, his voice tinged with regret."Now that I know about it, I can imagine it. But I have a question—what the hell was her nightgown doing in your room that day?" Aurora asked, squinting her eyes as she leaned closer to scrutinize him.Maverick raised a brow. "What? You’re more worried about that?""What? I can’t ask about that? Or are you keeping something that you don’t
Easton noticed Layla staring at the door, so he turned his body slightly to see who was standing there. He cleared his throat awkwardly when he saw that it was Maverick.“Are you just going to keep standing there?” Aurora asked, and that seemed to jolt Maverick out of his thoughts. He cleared his throat as well before walking toward them.When he sat down on the single chair opposite them, both he and Easton continued to stare at each other uncomfortably.Both had their opinions about the other and had hated each other many times, but they suddenly realized that neither of them was guilty of the crimes the other had accused them of. They could turn into pals, but at the same time, they couldn’t continue hating each other.They had to get along—or at least pretend to—for Aurora’s sake. They didn’t want her to be put in the difficult position of choosing between her mate and her best friend. But both had their pride, and neither was willing to be the first to apologize.“And here I thou